Renee Slesers insisted on her Arsenal players to show “Courage” in their Champions League final against Barcelona, while they strive to deduct the title holders on Saturday.
Arsenal takes on the Blaugrana in the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the hope of lifting De Kroon for the second time in their history, after they did this earlier in 2006-07.
But they are confronted with a strict test against Barca, which appear in their sixth Champions League final, and fifth in a row, where only Lyon (11) participated more.
This will be the fifth meeting between the two games in the competition, where the Gunners win both legs of their round of 32 draw in 2012-2013 and won 7-0 aggregated.
Barca won both group stage matches in the 2021-22 campaign, although Arsenal has a good record against the Spanish opposition in the competition and progressed with all four of their knockout podium tires against such teams.
But the side of Pere Romeu is now a other proposition, in which Barca leads the most important attacking areas in the competition this season, on average most goals (23.1), shots on goal (9.9) and expected goals (XG) per match (2.9), and the best conversion statio (19.1%).
The Supercomputer from OPTA predicts a fourth Champions League title in five years for Barca, so that they hand over a chance of winning of 56.5% to the 21.7% of Arsenal.
And although the chances can be stacked against her team, Sleges believes that her players have what is needed to get the job done against their opponents -lined opponents.
“We want to show courage tomorrow. We respect Barca as a team. They are really a good football team, so we are humble, but we are here to win,” Slegers said reporters.
“We have to find ways to win, and I am convinced that the momentum of the game will shift. It is important that we really treat every moment.
“We need courage and discipline, and we have to be called in. If we do all those things well, we can perform well. We believe in our assets tomorrow.”
1 – Arsenal's Renée Slegers want to become the first Dutch manager to win the @UWCL and the third in general, the victory, whether the men (since 1992-93) or women's match after Louis van Gaal (1995 with Ajax) and Frank Rijkaard (2006 with Barcelona). Left-right. #Uwclfinal pic.twitter.com/3qhqpdjcp5
– Optajoe (@Optajoe) May 23, 2025
SLERS want to become the first Dutch manager to win the Women's Champions League, and third in the men's or women's competition, after Louis van Gaal (1995 with Ajax) and Frank Rijkaard (2006 with Barcelona).
The Gunners have shown their resilience in reaching the showpiece competition, which fight from the edge in the final rounds of the competition.
Arsenal was indeed the first team to reach the final of the competition, despite losing the first stage of both their quarterfinals (US Real Madrid) and Semi-Final (US Lyon) tires.
And Alessia Russo echoed the feelings of sleepers and said: “We want to show courage. We respect Barca as a team. They are really a good football team, but we are here to win.
“We have to find ways to win, and I am convinced that if we handle and remain focused on all situations, we can perform well.
A lot has been made about the lack of experience within the Arsenal team prior to the final.
Indeed, only Mariona Caldentey once played in a final of the Champions League, which plays in five for Barca between 2019 and 2024.
The Barcelona team has meanwhile made 48 collective performances in the final, although Arsenal has a UEFA Cup winner in their ranks.
Kim Little played in the last victory of 2007 against the Umea van Zweden and was also part of the team in the first meeting of Arsenal with Barca in Europe's top club competition in 2012-2013.
“It's incredible for me to still be in the club. We came at the top,” Little said. “After 2007 and everything the club has achieved since then, leading the team is so special on this occasion.”
1 – Mariona Caldentey is the only current Arsenal player who has ever played in a final of the @UWCL, who plays in five for Barcelona between 2019 and 2024. The Barcelona team has meanwhile made 48 collective performances in the final. Underdogs. #Uwclfinal pic.twitter.com/xqnpdru7ey
– Optajoe (@Optajoe) May 23, 2025